Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for birthday gift ideas for my daughters 30th?

97 replies

equalmeasures · 16/06/2021 14:49

Daughter is 30 next year, it will also be the summer she graduates from university. She has done a lot the past 6 years to really turn things around, she was heading down a very bad path and has turned into a kind, caring and thoughtful daughter so I would like to make her 30th special.

My budget is no more that £1000. Any ideas?

OP posts:
FrancissDraygon · 16/06/2021 14:52

Heya xx.
I would personally go for an Apple Watch. I would this for a number of reasons.

  1. It will give her incentive to get out and about ( which can be hard after such a Turing lockdown)
  2. They are stylish and are very helpful for measuring different Heath factors. Which could be beneficial to her health.

Xx. Franciss

ScottishDiblet · 16/06/2021 14:52

I was given a beautiful watch for my 30th birthday. I love it and wear it everyday. I chose it with my mum and have it serviced every now ants then and it’s still going and looks beautiful nearly 11 years later. Would she like to choose a watch with you? Before my 30th I wore a beautiful watch I had been given for my 14th birthday!

Ilovemaisie · 16/06/2021 14:54

How does an Apple Watch help someone get 'out and about' Confused
What are her interests?

LittleRa · 16/06/2021 14:55

@Ilovemaisie

How does an Apple Watch help someone get 'out and about' Confused What are her interests?
Because you can log walks/runs- routes and distances, how many steps, calories burned etc.
Ilovemaisie · 16/06/2021 14:57

Oh right LittleRa. If she is into fitness I suppose that would be ok. Bit boring if you ask me !!

Jobsharenightmare · 16/06/2021 14:57

I would go for an experience that creates memories she'll never forget and/or if you would prefer a physical gift I agree with a beautiful watch or necklace engraved. I'm not suggesting this specifically but I absolutely loved an afternoon tea trip with my mother on the Orient Express for my 30th and treasure the memories of that day so so much.

LilMidge01 · 16/06/2021 15:00

I would try and focus on experiences rather than material gifts, especially after the last year and half of pandemic and if shes been studying hard virtually...
I turned 30 last year and was able to go for a spa break with my friend (friends and family contributed towards treatment costs) and it felt really special and indulgent as mot something I usually do.
I also love plants so went to kew gardens...but that's more specific to me.
I would think along the lines of ecperinexes/days out though.
Evening at the theatre?

trevthecat · 16/06/2021 15:01

What about a trip away?

idontlikealdi · 16/06/2021 15:01

A trip with both of you that you'd enjoy.

Apple Watch - no. Lovely dress watch, maybe.

Willwebebuyingnumber11 · 16/06/2021 15:02

A trip away or a piece of nice jewellery would be nice

wendz86 · 16/06/2021 15:02

My best present for my 30th was a trip to a spa. A weekend away would be great to somewhere she wants to go to. Obviously might have to wait if abroad.

ContadoraExplorer · 16/06/2021 15:05

I got a Mulberry bag for mine. I'm not massively fancy but wanted a nice bag to use and I still love it several years later.

user1491404899 · 16/06/2021 15:07

I'd do a fancy spa trip, maybe with a nice watch (not apple.....)

Soverymuchfruit · 16/06/2021 15:26

My nicest present I got for my 30th was a high quality thing related to my hobby, which I will use for the rest of my life. I asked for it. Doesn't mean it was given or received with any less love, does mean I actually did want it and will continue to value and use it for years.

So I suggest you ask her what she'd really like.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 16/06/2021 15:29

I sadly didn't have your budget but for my dd I bought 30 small gifts that were her favourite things. All individually wrapped!! Her siblings helped chose a few things each.
She was quite emotional tbh!!.
So was I that I had a dd of 30!!

Didiusfalco · 16/06/2021 15:33

It’s so much money - I would ask her, at least for some hints.

Not an Apple Watch though, knowing Apple they will stop supporting the technology after a while and it will become obsolete. Maybe a classic watch if she would like it.

PurBal · 16/06/2021 15:40

Life membership to the National Trust?

amusedbush · 16/06/2021 15:42

I wish you were my mum - I turned 30 last year, then graduated from my Masters a few weeks later and my (financially very comfortable) mum sent £50 to my bank account.

Personally, I love handbags and with a £1000 budget you can get a really nice once with some cash left over for smaller things. I used to be a fan of Mulberry and have a couple of older ones but the quality is iffy now. Coach and Aspinal of London do nice leather ones, or a smaller Louis Vuitton would be well within your budget.

amusedbush · 16/06/2021 15:42

Whoops, I actually meant to say a smaller Gucci but LV also do smaller bags for about £800 Blush

Justcallmebebes · 16/06/2021 15:46

I bought my daughter a really nice piece of jewellery for her 30th

SmokeyDevil · 16/06/2021 15:46

What are her interests? Difficult to give ideas with no idea of what she likes. I personally would hate an apple watch, as I hate apple products.

I think others are right though, experiences are probably better after what we've gone through, but again difficult to advise when we don't know what she likes.

Lockheart · 16/06/2021 15:52

@amusedbush

I wish you were my mum - I turned 30 last year, then graduated from my Masters a few weeks later and my (financially very comfortable) mum sent £50 to my bank account.

Personally, I love handbags and with a £1000 budget you can get a really nice once with some cash left over for smaller things. I used to be a fan of Mulberry and have a couple of older ones but the quality is iffy now. Coach and Aspinal of London do nice leather ones, or a smaller Louis Vuitton would be well within your budget.

Oh dear, very similar to me - I'd had to leave a career I loved but after struggling for many years finally retrained and qualified in a different field three months before my 30th, and my (very well off) parents sent me £50.

So as far as I'm concerned OP you're well ahead of the game!

I agree, I think something high quality and lasting (so not a gadget like a smart watch) will be lovely - a good quality actual watch, a handbag, a piece of jewellery etc.

LizziesTwin · 16/06/2021 15:56

My parents & husband didn’t buy me anything specific but I bought myself a ring with 30 small diamonds set in it.

amusedbush · 16/06/2021 15:59

@Lockheart

Not to derail the thread but my dad had a big birthday just before I turned 30 (right before covid restrictions came in) and my mum went absolutely batshit crazy spending money to celebrate it. I was pressured to increase my gift budget and I spent a small fortune on him plus petrol money to get there, not to mention I took a weekend out of my studies right before my dissertation was due.

That £50 was a kick in the teeth!

wanderedlonelyasacloud · 16/06/2021 16:02

Depending on what shes into:

-Take her to create/blend her own perfume at a proper perfumery
-Designer handbag
-Designer shoes
-Diamond necklace
-Diamond earrings
-A weekend away to somewhere like paris for the two of you
-A weekend away in the UK maybe to a city like london or edinburgh

When my husband graduated he was taken on a long haul holiday as a graduation present and he still talks about it now many years later so I would lean towards an experience personally Smile

Swipe left for the next trending thread